Canon 5D Mark III Experience
Taking control of all of these functions will enable you to consistently create the dramatic and compelling images you envision.
Learning to use and get the most out of a highly advanced digital SLR (dSLR) camera like the 5D Mk III takes time, practice, patience, mistakes, and experimentation. If you have upgraded from an older dSLR such as a the original 5D or 5D Mk II, an EOS 60D, 7D or one of their predecessors, or from a Rebel to the 5D Mk III, you are in for a treat. Its additional features and capabilities will more easily help you to capture images and photographs that you may have been limited in consistently attaining before. Its versatile and accurate autofocus system coupled with its rapid continuous shooting speed, plus its exposure metering system and high ISO capabilities will help you capture sharp images of subjects and moments that previously you may have missed, especially in lower light situations.
If you are relatively new to dSLR photography and are still in the process of learning all the controls of a dSLR and the exposure concepts of digital photography, you have perhaps jumped right into the proverbial deep end of the pool by choosing the advanced 5D Mk III! But don’t worry, this book will help guide you through its features, controls, and capabilities. Be sure to take it slowly and patiently as you learn the features and concepts that I will explain. With practice and experience you will soon be shooting with confidence and can begin to take advantage of the camera’s more advanced functions. Even if you are an intermediate photographer, don’t expect to just pick up all the new information at once, in one or two readings of a single book. (In fact, you wouldn’t want to, as the never ending journey of learning and mastering photography is a big part of what it’s all about!) Try not to become frustrated if you don’t quite understand something or aren’t always getting the results you desire. Instead learn the controls, functions, settings, and concepts bit by bit, try them out in real life shooting situations, and return to this guide, the manual, and other photography books to address questions and problems you encounter. Continue to learn and to photograph often and it should all begin to come together, sometimes slowly and sometimes in rapid spurts of discovery and understanding.
1.2 Using This Guide
There are many different ways to use a dSLR camera and its controls to capture images, and many diverse situations in which photographers work. I’m going to concentrate on the techniques that I believe are the most practical, useful, and effective for the majority of photographers using the 5D Mk III. The settings and techniques I discuss can apply to various types of photography including general photography, action, portrait, and travel photography. Once you have a firm grasp of the controls, settings, and basic techniques you will have the tools and knowledge to address different issues, specialized situations, and challenging scenes, and I encourage you to experiment and continue to learn.
Since this guide is intended to help you get the most out of your 5D Mk III, it will not go into detail about the automatic features. The Canon 5D Mk III is a highly sophisticated tool that deserves to be used to its full potential, and that involves taking control of the
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